Fun and games: what's the latest must-have accessory for today's high-stylin' dolls? A pool or spa, of course

Pool & Spa News, Dec 24, 2004 by Rin-rin Yu

Say buh-bye to those boring fairy princess days. The Barbies going under Christmas trees this year have gotten a makeover, dumped Ken and found a surfing Australian heartthrob ("Blaine").

"Call Girl" Barbie hangs out at a number of watering holes and ocean fronts, including her own Splash n' Slide Pool. Barbie can catch some rays in her own lounge chair or slip down the slide into an inflatable square pool, complete with side ladder.

Barbie isn't the only one who's hipped up her act with all things aquatic this holiday season. The trendy Bratz-Pack dolls "kick it" at their own Sun-Kissed Summer Splash 'n' Dance Pool Party. Cloe, Nevra, Dylan and the gang can cool off on lounge chairs by the pool or sip pineapple drinks at the smoothie bar while listening to music from a boom box.

Kids can also re-enact hot tub soaking with a mini-tub, made by Fisher-Price. The play figure relaxes and munches on imaginary food from the snack tray while experiencing real bubbling jets, lights and four tunes from the portable radio.

Fisher-Price's "Sweet Streets" Swimming Pool extends pool playtime long after youngsters leave their local YMCAs. Packed into a pod house for transportable fun are three play figures, who can slide or dive into the pool. When they grow hungry from all that exercise, they can hang out at the built-in snack stand. Chairs, towels, pool toys and a picnic table complete the aquatic package.

Playmobil's "Modern-Living" pool features bright-eyed figurines. They can grill up faux burgers on the barbecue for al fresco dining at the backyard table on the flagstone patio.

While these toys highlight the latest aquatic trends, miniaturized versions of kids' favorite wet playgrounds have been popular toys since the inception of water play, especially among girls. "Kids like to role-play what they do or know," says Marianne Szymanski, founder and president of Toy Tips Inc., a consumer-focused international consulting firm in Milwaukee.

"Summer is the usual time for swimming lessons for preschool and young kids --the same age that they play with the toys," she adds.

Children can get more out of playing with those toys than just fun and games, says Stevanne Auerbach, Ph.D., a toy expert in San Francisco who's also known as Dr. Toy. "There is nothing like swimming For all-around good health," Auerbach says, pointing out that imitating swimming through dolls will eventually lead to the actual activity.